The Martian House

The brainchild of Bristol artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent, the project brought together space scientists, world renowned architects, engineers, designers, school children and the public, to explore how considering future life on Mars, a planet with low power, zero emissions and zero waste, can inspire us to think creatively about how we can live more sustainably on earth and reassess our relationship with consumerism. The lower level is designed to be built underground within the lava tubes that exist beneath the planetary surface. As Mars has a thin atmosphere this will protect the inhabitants from high levels of radiation. The environmental control room with all the life support systems power the house, while two compact bedroom ‘pods’; along with a shower and a ‘Martian loo’ with low water use round out the accommodation. The interior design was be developed with a group of volunteers; everything from furniture to the smaller essentials of everyday living like Martian clothes, toothbrush and wallpaper, with a focus on creating items that are easy to repair, are multi-functional and contribute zero waste.